Grant funding to help offset local roadwork

January 21, 2021 · 0 Comments

Written By Peter Richardson

Local Journalism Initative Reporter

With input from the Town Engineer, Stephen Burnett and Director of Development and Operations Jim Moss, Treasurer Carey Holmes outlined the connecting link grant contract for the East portion of Main Street.

The RFP was closed in November and four bids were received. The winning bid, which includes option 1, of the three options provided, was Coco Paving at $491,609.

Stephen Burnett outlined to council the total scope of the project and all three options. He explained that when the application was filed, the total scope of the work was not determined.

Once this was accomplished, it was determined that the curbing along the core area of Main Street did need replacement along with the road resurfacing. Behind the curbing, between it and the sidewalk, was an area of interlocking stone. The decision that needed to be made was as to whether or not this should be replaced, reused, or left alone, hence the aforementioned three options.

The recommendation was that option 1 was the most efficient and practical, replace the interlocking stone and the curbing, along with the resurfacing of the road way.

Some of the old interlocking stone could be saved and reused in the renovations to Jack Downing Park.

In addition, the curbing in front of Town Hall, at the crosswalk, would be extended out so as to remove one lane of traffic and negate the use to the current barriers to prevent motorists from trying to pass cars waiting for traffic in the crosswalk.

Both the new stone and the lane change are awaiting MTO approval but no issue with that is presently foreseen.

Treasurer Holmes indicated that the extra costs of the new stone, which was a little over $82,000, could be taken from the Road Construction Reserve, leaving it with a balance of $293,500.

Once the MTO approvals are received for the optional work, the project should commence as soon as weather permits are available, assumably in early spring of 2021. Council approved the project unanimously.